Glossary

terms for which definitions are available

a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | l | m | n | o | p | r | s | t | u | v | w
Click one of the letters above to be taken to a page of all terms beginning with that letter.
NOAA

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

non-point source pollution

pollution that comes from a diffuse source such as atmospheric deposition, stormwater runoff from pasture and cro pland, or individual on-lot domestic sewage systems discharging through shallow groundwater

NPDES

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

nutrient

an element or molecule needed for biological growth; when nutrients such as phosphorus are present in great concentrations, biological growth (algae in particular) can become overabundant, causing problems for aquatic ecosystems